The Penal and Correctional Institutions Department (PCID) organized its annual Ramadan gathering to honor the winning teams in sports activities held for inmates. The event was attended by the PCID director Col. Mohammed Saud Al-Otaibi, director of Social Rehabilitation Centre Rashid Al-Nuaimi as well as heads of other sections at the PCID and a number of officers and petty officers apart from the prison inmates participated in Ramadan sports activities.

The ceremony started with recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran followed by the words of Col. Al-Otaibi in which he welcomed the audience. He also affirmed that the PCID is taking care of organizing cultural, sports and entertainment activities for inmates considering them as part of the society and they have the right to practice their hobbies while serving their prison term. He also pointed out that it's the duty of the Department to rehabilitate them for their return and reintegration into the community.

"The PCID holds a recreational session annually for inmates during the month of Ramadan taking into account that the inmates are part of the society. The Department strives to make this a multi-faceted event to include cultural, sports and entertainment programs so that each inmate can practice what he likes. It is evident that these kinds of sessions will give them a relief from routine life and will provide an environment of cheer, healthy competition and spending time on some thing useful", added Al-Otaibi.

"The main purpose of this kind of sessions is to rehabilitate the inmates and enable them to return to the community as a creative and productive factor", continued Al-Otaibi stressing that the PCID is keen to provide them a better environment and various services appropriate with their human dignity. He also thanked all those who worked for successful organization of this session.

The director of Social Rehabilitation Centre Rashid Al-Nuaimi praised the efforts and role of the PCID in rehabilitating the inmates. He said, "We were proud to work with the PCID in the rehabilitation program for inmates of drug cases and it was a great success with your cooperation. Let me thank the working group from the Centre and all those participated from the PCID for their cooperation and efforts in implementing the program in all circumstance". He wished that the cooperation between the PCID and the Centre will bring further fruitful results on the targeted groups.

The activities included six sports items such as table tennis, carom, tug-of war, rope pulling, football and volley ball. At the end of the ceremony Col. Saud Al Otaibi awarded prizes and trophies for winners and invited all to the Suhoor party prepared by the Department.